Standard Precautions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created Standard Precautions to help prevent the spread of infection during patient care. Standard Precautions incorporate infection control practices that help protect the patient as well as the healthcare worker. The precautions operate on the assumption that every person is potentially infected with an organism that can be transmitted in the healthcare setting. All blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions (except sweat), nonintact skin, and mucous membranes may contain infectious agents that can be given to others. Healthcare personnel should follow Standard Precautions while delivering healthcare to patients.

Standard Precautions to Prevent Spread of Infection for Healthcare Workers

Hand Hygiene

Avoid touching surfaces around the patient unless necessary.

Hand washing with an alcohol-based hand rub is preferred if hands are not visibly soiled or after removing visible material with non-antimicrobial soap and water.

Use antimicrobial soap and water to wash your hands if:

Your hands are visibly dirty, soiled, or contaminated

You had contact with spores from infectious organisms

Wash hands:

Before contact with a patient

Before moving from a contaminated area of a patient to a clean area of the patient

Change gloves if moving from a contaminated area of a patient to a clean area of the patient.

Mask, Goggles, Face Shield

Use during procedures and patient care activities that are likely to result in splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions

Use during lumbar procedures that involve placement of a catheter, or injection of material into spinal or epidural space

Needles and Other Sharps

Accidental injuries with needles and sharps happen when performing procedures. They also occur when handling or disposing of used needles and sharps.

To prevent needle stick injuries, used needles should not be recapped, bent or broken, or otherwise manipulated by hand.

If recapping is required, use a one-handed scoop only.

Place used needles, disposable syringes, scalpel blades, pipettes, and other sharp items in puncture-resistant containers marked with a biohazard symbol for disposal.

Use safety features when available.

Safety when Injecting Medicine

Aseptic techniques should be used with sterile injection equipment.

Do not reuse needles, tubing, connectors, IV bags, or syringes. They should only be used on one patient.

Use single-dose vials whenever possible and only use single-dose vials for one patient.

If using multi-dose vials:

Keep them away from the immediate patient areas.

Needles, tubing and syringes used to access the vial must be new and sterile.

Patient Resuscitation

Use a mouthpiece, resuscitation bag, or other ventilation devices to prevent contact with mouth or oral secretions.

Environmental Control

Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces that are patients are near and frequently touched surfaces as these surfaces can easily be contaminated

Use appropriate cleaning solutions that are Environmental Protection Agency registered.

Child play toys used in waiting areas should be disinfected regularly.

Handle fabric such as used sheets and towels carefully to avoid contamination with other objects or the air.

Equipment Used in Patient Care

Precautions should be taken to prevent spread of infection from equipment that has been contaminated. Examples include:

Removing material from instruments and cleaning the devices before sterilization

Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment when handing patient care equipment that may have been soiled or been in contact with blood or body fluids

Patient Placement

Try to put patients who may transmit infections to others in a single room. This may be any patient who is likely to contaminate the environment or does not maintain hygiene. It may also be patients at risk for acquiring or developing adverse outcomes following infection.

Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

In addition to patients and healthcare workers, this element is also aimed at family members and friends with undiagnosed transmissible respiratory infections. People entering a health facility with signs of illness including cough, congestion, rhinorrhea, or increased production of respiratory secretions should take special precautions. Offices and hospitals should have posted signs with instructions for patients and visitors to:

Cover their mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing.

Use tissues and after use, throw them away in appropriate receptacles.

Wash hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing nose.

Wear masks if they are coughing or have other symptoms as soon as they walk into the facility during a season where respiratory infections are common.

Stay at least 3 feet away from other patients if they are having symptoms.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Recommendations For Application Of Standard Precautions For The Care Of All Patients In All Healthcare Settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/2007ip/2007ip%5Ftable4.html. Updated December 29, 2009. Accessed October 24, 2016.